Page 48 - Sports Illustrated Kids (April 2019)
P. 48
DAY ONE JAN. 17
Outside the bullpen door, a small sign glows in
blue neon letters: meeting in progress.
“O.K., boys,” Cooper says, setting down his
coffee at 9:21 a.m. “Let’s get organized.”
Bent over their laptops, the boys—assistants Todd
Richards, Jeff Halpern and Derek Lalonde, video coach
Nigel Kirwan, video coordinator Brian Garlock, and goalie confusion as possible has been the best thing about this
coach Frantz Jean—are preparing for tonight’s matchup coaching staff since I got here,” says defenseman Ryan Mc-
with Atlantic Division–rival Toronto. Over the next nine Donagh, who was acquired from the Rangers last season.
hours they will plod through the usual game-day routine: “But I also think they do a good job of giving the message
morning skate, film-study sessions, team meetings (two), to us every day in a different way, in different voices, so it
a meeting with each power-play unit, a meeting with the doesn’t feel stale. That’s the sign of a coaching staff that trusts
penalty kill . . . not to mention several discussions about one another.”
scheduling more meetings. After the morning skate Cooper and the assistants return
Don’t get the wrong idea, though. This isn’t one of those to the bullpen to dissect film of the Maple Leafs’ ninth-
24/7 operations, all-nighters pulled on air mattresses be- ranked power play. The Lightning won their last meeting,
neath a projection screen’s glow. They play tennis on road 4–1 on Dec. 13, but goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy was pelted
trips, race laps in hotel pools, and recently held a board with 16 scoring chances on six man-advantages. Tonight
game night at which Richards taught everyone the rules to the Lightning will counter by unveiling a 3–1 neutral zone
Settlers of Catan. “We also have a chess ladder,” Lalonde forecheck—stacking three skaters across the defensive blue
notes from his desk. “The Princeton guy is not at the top.” line on the penalty kill instead of their usual 2–2 setup.
The Ivy Leaguer getting razzed would be Halpern, a class Meanwhile, a pair of new golf shoes has shown up in Coo-
of 1999 economics major who played for seven NHL teams per’s office. (Coaches get tons of swag.) They are slightly too
FEBRUARY 11, 2019 is a rookie behind the bench at this level, which makes them sixth-best penalty kill with Richards.
big but the perfect size for Lalonde, who runs the league’s
over the next 15-plus years. Like Lalonde, though, Halpern
easy targets. When Lalonde reported to work in thigh-hugging
“If their PP goes 0-fer tonight,” Cooper says, “you can
• bike shorts, Cooper greeted him, “Do you own any mirrors have them.”
He turns around, heads into his office and adds with a
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED perch atop the league’s standings, where they have been since wink, “Gotta keep them on their toes.”
in your house?”
No doubt the casual atmosphere reflects the Lightning’s
Nov. 29. “Chemistry and synergy are paramount,” Cooper
DAY TWO Jan. 18
explains. “If you’re trying to build a culture with the play-
ers, you’d be a little hypocritical if you didn’t have the same Thanks to the new-look penalty kill, Lalonde keeps the spikes.
50 thing in the staff.” But a second-period defensive breakdown leads to winger
The players have noticed. “The ability to create as little Mitch Marner’s decisive goal in a 4–2 Leafs win.
